IF you thought something had been missing from your business motoring company car choice lists, then so did Toyota.
The Corolla nameplate is coming back to the UK.
The brilliantly successful hatchback and estate model really is on the comeback trail, and will replace the Auris model range.
Which means the new Toyota Corolla will be built at Toyota’s Derby Burnaston plant in the UK.
While the name may be familiar the platform on which the new Corolla is built is completely new. It will be the first Toyota to use the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) GA-C platform.
Oh! you might say in a mildly interested way.
Toyota says you’ll be rather more interested when you drive the car. That’s because the TNGA will help the Corolla deliver a more dynamic driving experience thanks to a lower centre of gravity. A highly more rigid body will also contribute to increased safety levels.
You’ll also be interested in the fact that the entry point to the new Corolla range starts at £21,300. Which is cheaper than the start point for the current Auris range.
What we don’t have yet is any information on economy or CO2 emissions to find out how much the new Corolla may cost in benefit in kind company car tax. But let’s just say that the current Auris starts at 22% on the company car tax benefit charge scale for 2019/20.
So what do you get in term of kit for your money with the new Toyota Corolla?
Both the new Corolla Hatchback and Touring Sports estate share the same equipment grade structure: Icon, Icon Tech, Design and Excel trims.
Both body styles offer the same combinations of grades and powertrains: Icon and Icon Tech models are available with the 1.8-litre self-charging hybrid system and 1.2T petrol engine.
Design versions are also available with anew 2.0-litre hybrid system. Excel grade is all-hybrid, offered with both the 1.8 and 2.0-litre systems.
Toyota Corolla Icon specification
At icon models are equipped as standard with: –
- 16-inch alloy wheels
- Automatic LED headlights
- E-Call system
- Heated front seats with lumbar support
- Toyota Touch 2 with eight-inch multimedia touchscreen
- Reversing camera
- DAB
- 2-inch colour TFT multi-information display
- Dual-zone air conditioning (1.8 Hybrid models only)
Toyota Corolla Icon Tech specification
This grade adds further useful technology features, including: –
- Toyota Touch with Go, with satellite navigation and voice control
- Seven-inch colour TFT multi-information display
- Parking sensors and Intelligent Park Assist (Intelligent Clearance Sonar on the 1.8 Hybrid models)
Toyota Corolla Design specification
This grade adds: –
- 17-inch machined alloy wheels
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Power-adjustable heated door mirrors with automatic folding function
- Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
- Rear privacy glass
- LED front fog lights
- Optional opening panoramic roof
Toyota Corolla Excel specification
The top of the new Corolla range adds: –
- 18-inch alloy wheels (Hatchback, 17-inch for Touring Sports)
- Bi-LED headlights
- Smart Entry
- Sports front seats
- Part-leather seat upholstery
- Optional opening panoramic roof
- Optional bi-tone paint finish (Hatchback only)
- Optional eight-speaker JBL premium sound system (2.0-litre Hybrid only)
Toyota Corolla prices
The full Corolla line-up and on-the-road prices are given in the table below. Toyota’s UK retailers are now accepting pre-orders for the vehicles ahead of the sales launch in March next year.
GRADE | BODY STYLE | POWERTRAIN | OTR PRICE |
Icon | Hatchback | 1.2T manual | £21,300 |
Icon | Hatchback | 1.8 Hybrid CVT | £23,750 |
Icon | Touring Sports | 1.2T manual | £22,570 |
Icon | Touring Sports | 1.8 Hybrid CVT | £25,020 |
Icon Tech | Hatchback | 1.2T manual | £22,350 |
Icon Tech | Hatchback | 1.8 Hybrid CVT | £24,800 |
Icon Tech | Touring Sports | 1.2T manual | £23,620 |
Icon Tech | Touring Sports | 1.8 Hybrid CVT | £26,070 |
Design | Hatchback | 1.2T manual | £23,375 |
Design | Hatchback | 1.8 Hybrid CVT | £25,825 |
Design | Hatchback | 2.0 Hybrid CVT | £27,550 |
Design | Touring Sports | 1.2T manual | £24,645 |
Design | Touring Sports | 1.8 Hybrid CVT | £27,095 |
Design | Touring Sports | 2.0 Hybrid CVT | £28,820 |
Excel | Hatchback | 1.8 Hybrid CVT | £27,345 |
Excel | Hatchback | 2.0 Hybrid CVT | £29,070 |
Excel | Touring Sports | 1.8 Hybrid CVT | £28,615 |
Excel | Touring Sports | 2.0 Hybrid CVT | £30,340 |
The new Corolla Saloon will also be introduced in the UK in 2019, with prices and specification details to be announced in the New Year.